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The Washington Post rolled out a 10-question sampler this week to dramatize what it calls a “harder” U.S. citizenship test, and predictable cable outrage followed. Conservative commentator Glenn Beck even took their quiz on air to show how the average American might fare against the new material, and it exposed exactly what we suspected: the left-wing media prefer sympathy for open borders over sober respect for American civic knowledge.
Here are the plain facts that matter to every patriot: the new 2025 civics exam restores the broader 128-question bank and asks applicants up to 20 oral civics questions, with applicants required to answer 12 correctly to pass. This is not some partisan fantasy — USCIS has updated its study materials and clearly laid out the format and passing standard to make sure naturalization truly reflects knowledge of our history and government.
The agency’s implementation schedule is also straightforward: USCIS will administer the 2025 test to anyone who files Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, while those who filed earlier will get the older, 2008 test. That deadline matters — it gives prospective citizens a real incentive to prepare now or, frankly, to respect the seriousness of joining this nation.
The Washington Post’s multiple-choice “quiz” sanitizes what the real interview demands — spoken answers under pressure, not a multiple-choice sheet. National outlets rushing to cry “unfair” miss a critical point: citizenship is an honor, not a handout, and ensuring newcomers know why the Constitution matters and how our Republic works is common-sense stewardship of our civic order.
Let’s be blunt: making the test more rigorous is the right move. For too long our elites have treated assimilation as optional, preferring sentimentalism over standards. If you want to be an American, you should be able to name the principles that hold this country together and explain why they matter — not just recite talking points from cable news.
If you’re an aspiring citizen or advising one, don’t sleep on the filing dates and study guides. USCIS is publishing the 128-question bank and updated resources so applicants can prepare — the system now favors those who respect deadlines and take preparation seriously. That’s not cruelty; it’s accountability.
Predictably, the left-leaning press will keep framing this as a “barrier” designed to exclude. But any nation that wants to survive needs borders, laws, and cultural cohesion. Raising the bar for naturalization is not xenophobia — it’s patriotism dressed in plain language: we expect loyalty, literacy in our civic story, and a willingness to join the American experiment on its terms.
Hardworking Americans ought to welcome a citizenship standard that honors our history and protects our future. If the elites in the press prefer a softer path, let them. The rest of us will keep insisting that becoming an American means more than residency — it means understanding and defending the ideals that made this country the greatest in history.
